On May 13, sniffer dogs alerted Australian Federal Police officers to Mr Pisasale as he prepared to board his flight to Brisbane and officers found $50,000 in cash on the popular mayor.

"The $50,000 that was volunteered to be in the possession of Mr Pisasale, by him, at the Tullamarine Airport was $50,000 for the settlement of litigation between parties in the Supreme Court, not in any way shape or form, associated with Mr Pisasale," Mr Di Carlo told The Courier-Mail.